So I used one of the coupons I got today from the Dept. of Commerce for the 40 dollars off the converter box. I hooked it up today to see what would happen........ Nothing......... moved some things around.......... Nothing......... moved somemore things around.......... Nothing still. I have tried everything. So notice on the box it says special return policy in place. I call best buy. The coupon is good for only one purchase and then you are SOL. I can get my money back but the coupon goes back to the government. I did get two very chopped up pixalated crappy pictures with broken sound. So I guess I will have to comply with federal government BS and look at other options. As much tv as Connie and I watch this is going to be an incredible ripoff to us. I bet the tv isnt on 4 hours a week. So I guess I should have done more research before buying one. The coupon was for 40 dollars and the box was 59.99, so I guess this was a 20 dollar life lesson for me. What crap. Good luck to all you rabbit earred folks out there that wont justify 60 bucks or more a month to watch the idiot box.

bmeserve

05-09-2008, 01:55 PM

That definitely sucks....

I don't actually really understand all this stuff but I have satellite at the moment so I'm not too worried ( I don't think it affects that ) ... I guess I'll worry about it when I can't afford the cable anymore? LOL

brdad

05-09-2008, 02:05 PM

It almost sounds like you don't have a strong enough signal. The box may be perfectly fine, even though it may be useless. If your box can't get reception using your existing antenna, a new digital TV may not, either.

My sister gets the cable for the local channels that you can't get with some dish systems, it gives her 7 or 8 channels for less than the regular basic cable. I forget how much, though.

Other than that, you may try a larger antenna, outside if you could do so. I built one with phone wire an thumbtacks on the back of my entertainment center for HDTV that works 95% of the time, but I live right in town.

Hiram357

05-09-2008, 02:11 PM

Dave, just do what I do... Don't watch TV :D

(you can download every episode of southpark off of their website, what more do ya need???) :D

firefighterjake

05-09-2008, 03:07 PM

It almost sounds like you don't have a strong enough signal. The box may be perfectly fine, even though it may be useless. If your box can't get reception using your existing antenna, a new digital TV may not, either.

My sister gets the cable for the local channels that you can't get with some dish systems, it gives her 7 or 8 channels for less than the regular basic cable. I forget how much, though.

Other than that, you may try a larger antenna, outside if you could do so. I built one with phone wire an thumbtacks on the back of my entertainment center for HDTV that works 95% of the time, but I live right in town.

I agree with Dave . . . the second Dave that is. :) While the converter box may possibly be defective, it sounds as though you may not be getting enough of a signal where you are . . . with digital TV it's usually all or nothing . . . you either get a wonderfully, clear picture or you get the pixellation.

Where I live I receive WABI great . . . but then again I practically live in the shadow of their transmitter in Dixmont. I also have a roof top antenna and I added a powered line booster as well . . . WLBZ, WCSH and the other CBS affiliate in southern Maine come in about half of the time . . . some days are better than others.

Short of adding a roof-top antenna (or an antenna in your attic if you prefer to go that route) I can only let you know that the last I knew not every station in the Bangor Area was transmitting at full power for their digital stations . . . apparently the cost in running dual transmitters (standard def and hi def) is pretty pricey . . . things may change when the big switchover is made.

One thing I have noticed is that the PTV stations seem to be transmitting at pretty high power . . . plug things in and see if you can't pull in a signal from PBS.

You might want to see if Best Buy will make a swap for the same or similar unit . . . there is always the possibility that the converter is defective.

firefighterjake

05-09-2008, 03:08 PM

That definitely sucks....

I don't actually really understand all this stuff but I have satellite at the moment so I'm not too worried ( I don't think it affects that ) ... I guess I'll worry about it when I can't afford the cable anymore? LOL

Yup . . . you're right . . . cable and satellite subscribers really will only have to worry about the high def switch over if they have a service that doesn't offer local channels (i.e. I have DirecTV and so as a result I watch WABI for my local news and weekly Survivor fix.)

Opalsns

05-09-2008, 03:13 PM

Yup . . . you're right . . . cable and satellite subscribers really will only have to worry about the high def switch over if they have a service that doesn't offer local channels (i.e. I have DirecTV and so as a result I watch WABI for my local news and weekly Survivor fix.)

I wonder if Eric would have been that stupid in HD!!!LOL!!!:cool:

brdad

05-09-2008, 03:14 PM

I also think I read, but can't seem to find facts to back it up, that once the stations stop broadcasting an analog signal, they will increase the power output from the digital signal.

Opalsns

05-09-2008, 03:18 PM

That definitely sucks....

I don't actually really understand all this stuff but I have satellite at the moment so I'm not too worried ( I don't think it affects that ) ... I guess I'll worry about it when I can't afford the cable anymore? LOL

Can Nascar get any better in HD!!! I'd watch it on the radio if I had too!!!
That's my weekly fix. It's too bad Stevie didn't shake Kyle's head right off last week, Then he wouldn't have taken Dale out!!!!!!!Let's see who dances withh the lady this week!!!!!!
Opalsns

firefighterjake

05-09-2008, 03:38 PM

I wonder if Eric would have been that stupid in HD!!!LOL!!!:cool:

HehHeh . . . another Survivor fanatic, huh? It's been a good season . . . but man are those guys dumb.

dí76

05-09-2008, 03:51 PM

I know that my signal is not real strong but I get a great picture most of the time with the Rabbit Ears. The converter tells me that I dont have a great signal but I thought it was gonna be like digital cell signal. If you have any its great no matter how strong. I will figure something out it will just take time.

I know my neighbor has cable. He is going away for memorial day weekend. do you suppose he would notice if there was a narrow trench dug from his house to mine then filled in.

Hiram357

05-09-2008, 03:54 PM

I know that my signal is not real strong but I get a great picture most of the time with the Rabbit Ears. The converter tells me that I dont have a great signal but I thought it was gonna be like digital cell signal. If you have any its great no matter how strong. I will figure something out it will just take time.

I know my neighbor has cable. He is going away for memorial day weekend. do you suppose he would notice if there was a narrow trench dug from his house to mine then filled in.

dave, you dont need to dig a trench, just use a flat shovel, and peel up the grass in small sections, tuck the cable under the grass and then stomp it down a bit, he'll never know. :rolleyes::D

vicbiker

05-09-2008, 07:47 PM

HehHeh . . . another Survivor fanatic, huh? It's been a good season . . . but man are those guys dumb.At least James went from being the dumbest guy in survivor history, to being the second dumbest.:D

Opalsns

05-09-2008, 09:58 PM

At least James went from being the dumbest guy in survivor history, to being the second dumbest.:D

Ha!! These women are gonna sit around watching the other one for the rest of the show! It'll be like the end of the movie, "THE THING"
The LastTwo guys alive, thinking each other is the creature.
TEE HEE!!!!:eek::eek::eek::eek:

WhereRWe?

05-10-2008, 03:20 AM

(i.e. I have DirecTV and so as a result I watch WABI for my local news and weekly Survivor fix.)

You're lucky! We're just 20 or so miles from you, but since we live in the "Bangor market", DirecTV doesn't allow us to have local channels. Stupid, or what? :mad::mad:

bmeserve

05-16-2008, 02:10 PM

Yeah we're the same down here in Portland Market ... we have to pay like 5 bucks extra or something a month to get the local channels through the satellite....

WhereRWe?

05-16-2008, 05:53 PM

Yeah we're the same down here in Portland Market ... we have to pay like 5 bucks extra or something a month to get the local channels through the satellite....

Sheesh! I would GLADLY pay $5 a month extra to get the local channels via satellite. We can get them over the air, but the picture is like TV from 1965!